Renovation of a stadium in Houston, Texas. Completed plans call for the renovation of a stadium.

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2024/12/20/nrg-center-upgrades-approved-digital-signage.html NRG Center is set to receive a number of upgrades. During its Dec. 18 board meeting, the Harris County Sports & Convention Corp., the landlord for NRG Park, approved $2.28 million of funding for various projects at the facility. The most significant upgrade will replace NRG Center’s wayfinding signage with new digital signage. Most of the other approved projects are cosmetic, such as painting and ceiling replacements. The organization approved the projects as part of routine repair and maintenance and to improve the aesthetics of the building, HCSCC CEO and Executive Director Martye Kendrick said in a statement. The projects were approved just after Tennessee-based Venue Solutions Group LLC presented its NRG Park facility condition assessment to the board. The report shows that the 350-acre development is in need of $1.9 billion in maintenance based on a proposed 30-year capital plan. The upgrades and facility condition assessment come as NRG Park is over 20 years old and its tenants, the Houston Texans and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, negotiate their leases at the development. A master plan is currently being developed for the future of the park. During the meeting, VSG Partner Mike Wooley said that NRG Center’s wayfinding signage is dated and in need of replacement. The HCSCC is already addressing the issue, approving a $919,966 project to add digital signage throughout the venue, according to the Dec. 18 board book. The project will add eight signs in the lower lobby, 10 signs in the mezzanine and four signs over the escalators. The digital signage will be installed at NRG Center following RodeoHouston's 2025 show, Kendrick said. Signage is an issue across NRG Park and needs to be updated throughout the development, according to the facility condition assessment. Wooley described it as one of the most glaring issues at the park. The second-largest project approved was the replacement of NRG Center’s event space door locks for $335,855. The current door lock system is outdated, and equipment to maintain it can no longer be procured, HCSCC wrote in the agenda book. The upgraded system will be integrated into NRG Park’s access control system and can be monitored through its security system. Other projects include replacing the lounge chairs on the mezzanine, cleaning all eight escalators, painting the lobby and exhibit hall air walls, and replacing the domestic water tank. HCSCC also recently approved multiple upgrades at NRG Stadium. During its Nov. 20 meeting, the board approved the purchase of new end zone video boards for the stadium, part of $35 million worth of projects being funded by Harris County. The HCSCC also approved $1.56 million for various other improvements, most of which will upgrade premium spaces. The recent projects approved for NRG Center pale in comparison to the work that needs to be done at the venue, according to the facility condition assessment. The 30-year capital plan shows that the facility needs approximately $402.31 million worth of maintenance. About $104.43 million is needed within the first five years of that proposed plan, indicating that there are a number of high-priority items that need to be repaired, replaced or updated in the near term. The plan is presented in five-year segments, with the first five years representing the second-highest cost. The highest cost is the last five years of the plan — at which point the facility would be over 50 years old — totaling approximately $153.93 million. Among some of the conclusions of the facility condition report is that NRG Park’s structure is in generally fair condition, though “several items exhibit signs of deterioration or damage that require maintenance and/or rehabilitation work.” VSG wrote that it performed a similar assessment in 2018 and indicated that repairs needed to be made to items such as joist members, diagonal bracing members and gaps in the catwalk and floor spalls, but those issues have yet to be addressed. Meanwhile, there are “a number of deficiencies” with NRG Center’s roof that necessitates its replacement in three to eight years. With the roof spanning over 1.05 million square feet, that project is estimated to cost $39.11 million. The capital plan calls for the roof replacement to be completed in the first five years. Additionally, the capital plan also calls for the roof to be replaced again in the last five years of the plan, which is estimated to cost $81.88 million. The budget for the roof replacements is the largest category of costs included on the proposed plan. _______________________________________________________________________ https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2024/12/19/nrg-park-2-billion-maintenance-needs.html A facilities-condition assessment recommends $1.9 billion in maintenance investments for NRG Park over the next 30 years. Here’s why. The Harris County Sports & Convention Corp. — NRG Park’s landlord — along with the Houston Texans, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and Harris County collaborated on the assessment, which was conducted by Tennessee-based Venue Solutions Group LLC. VSG presented its findings at the HCSCC’s Dec. 18 board meeting, providing a high-level overview of the condition of the park and needed maintenance. The results of the study will help all stakeholders develop NRG Park’s next master plan as the Texans and RodeoHouston negotiate their leases at the development. Planning is underway for the master plan, HCSCC said in a press release, which will include a multiyear capital improvement plan to address identified needs. The complete facilities assessment contains a proposed capital plan that spans 30 years, though VSG chose to only present a 15-year maintenance timeline. The 15-year plan would cost an estimated $761 million, while the 30-year plan is estimated to cost $1.9 billion. The study focused on NRG Stadium, NRG Center, the two central plants, RodeoHouston storage and NRG Park’s site. "NRG Park is one of our region's most valuable public assets," HCSCC CEO and Executive Director Martye Kendrick said in a release. "To ensure NRG Park continues to serve the community effectively, we will need investments that match the high level of activity the park supports. At the same time, we must balance our responsibility to the public as responsible stewards of this county-owned asset." The assessment did not include NRG Arena or the Astrodome. HCSCC Chairman James Dixon II said the arena was not studied as there is a consensus that the facility needs to be replaced completely, not just renovated to proper standards. VSG Partner Mike Wooley said during the board meeting that NRG Park is in need of such a significant investment because of its age and the amount of traffic it gets on an annual basis. While many aspects of NRG Stadium and NRG Center are in fair or good condition, the facilities are both over 20 years old, and the park sees over 5.5 million visitors annually. “This is a unique complex. There’s probably not another one like it in North America,” Wooley said. “Five and a half million people on site are going to wear it out quicker.” Because of its age, Wooley addressed whether NRG Stadium, as a whole, is approaching the end of its life and needs to be completely replaced. He acknowledged that many stadiums around the same age as NRG Stadium are being demolished and replaced — such as the Tennessee Titans’ Nissan Stadium — though others are just being renovated — like the Baltimore Ravens’ M&T Bank Stadium. Stadiums are built to last at least about 30 years, though some newer venues will likely last far beyond that, Wooley said. Whether a stadium approaching that age needs to be demolished or is still suitable enough to be renovated depends. However, it appears that NRG Stadium can be renovated to a high-class standard. “There is no magic formula,” Wooley said. “There are so many factors that go into replacing or renovating (the stadium).” NRG Stadium costs Both Wooley and Dixon noted the uniqueness of NRG Stadium compared to other NFL venues. Between Texans games, RodeoHouston, concerts, soccer matches and other events, no other football stadium sees as much traffic as NRG Stadium, Wooley said. The venue hosts more than 3 million visitors annually, compared to between 1 million and 1.5 million visitors for other NFL stadiums. “It’s almost unfair to just call (NRG Stadium) an NFL stadium because it’s a lot more than that,” Dixon said during the meeting. Under the 15-year capital plan, NRG Stadium is in need of $532.26 million in maintenance, according to the assessment. Some of the major work that will need to be done includes wholesale updates of premium areas, signage updates, replacement of the fixed seating, video control room updates, and the replacement and modernization of escalators and elevators. Many of those items are on a 20- to 25-year lifespan, so they are naturally at the end of their use given NRG Stadium’s age, Wooley said. The two most significant estimated costs at NRG Stadium are architecture improvements of $243.31 million and technology upgrades of $104.86 million. While structural components have a longer lifespan, the replacement cycle for technology continues to decrease. Technology updates need to occur every eight to 10 years now, Wooley said, necessitating the investment. “??The completed FCA report clearly highlights significant challenges that need to be addressed at NRG Park and NRG Stadium in both the near and long term,” Texans President Greg Grissom said in a press release. “Together with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, we look forward to supporting Harris County and HCSCC to identify the best solutions to address these challenges.” NRG Center costs NRG Center requires the second-largest investment at the park, with an estimated cost of $154.46 million based on the 15-year timeline, according to VSG. A significant portion of that cost will be for a new roof, Wooley said. The facility’s main roof, which totals more than 1 million square feet, will need to be completely replaced within the next three to eight years. That is estimated to cost $39.11 million, according to the assessment. Other major updates needed include new wayfinding signage, replacement of elevators and escalators, and new video displays. “This report solidifies that significant work must be done to ensure that NRG Park's facilities return to world-class condition,” RodeoHouston President and CEO Chris Boleman said in the release. “As the only tenant using all functioning buildings, we're dedicated to improving the Rodeo experience at NRG Park.” Boleman added: “We're committed to partnering with Harris County and the Houston Texans to address these challenges while fulfilling our mission and continuing our tradition of giving back to Houston.” ______________________________________________________________________ https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2024/12/18/nrg-park-maintenance-investment-2-billion-dollars.html NRG Park is in need of billions of dollars in maintenance costs, a new report is expected to show. Harris County Sports & Convention Corp., the landlord for the 350-acre sports and entertainment complex, will hold a board meeting on Dec. 18, which will include the discussion of a facility-condition assessment for NRG Park. That study, completed by Venue Solutions Group, is expected to show that the development needs a 30-year capital investment of $1.9 billion to cover deferred and ongoing maintenance costs, three sources with knowledge of the assessment told the Houston Business Journal. That includes $1.4 billion needed for NRG Stadium alone. The report does not include assessments for NRG Arena or the Astrodome, the sources said. Additionally, the assessment addresses only the costs for deferred and ongoing maintenance, not renovations, improvements or upgrades. Renovations and upgrades for NRG Stadium could cost over $1 billion, one source said. Combined maintenance and renovation costs would slightly offset one another, though the total investment likely would still be in the billions of dollars. The Venue Solutions Group assessment includes a potential 30-year capital plan, which would be completed in five-year increments, though it is not an official maintenance plan. The first increment of that plan is estimated to cost $450 million, sources said. However, HCSCC is focused on a 15-year plan, which is estimated to cost $761 million, one source said. The study comes as the Houston Texans, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, HCSCC and Harris County continue to plan for the future of NRG Park and negotiate lease extensions. The Texans' lease ends in 2031, followed by RodeoHouston’s lease expiring in 2032. The new study updates a 2019 assessment from Houston-based design firm PGAL. That study found NRG Park needed $554 million in maintenance and capital projects, according to the Houston Chronicle. Five years later, it appears that number has nearly quadrupled. Funding NRG Park maintenance Determining how the needed maintenance will be funded is the next step of the equation. Per the lease agreements for NRG Park, Harris County is responsible for maintaining the facilities. HCSCC is obligated to "operate and maintain the leased premises, or cause the leased premises to be operated and maintained, in a first class condition," according to the agreements. "First class condition" is defined as being in compliance with all governmental rules, being in good condition and repair, and meeting or exceeding the standards of comparable facilities, the lease says. Comparable facilities are NFL venues of similar sizes that were constructed either five years before or five years after the Texans started their lease at NRG Stadium, which was in 2001, according to lease documents. As the landlord for NRG Park, HCSCC deposits $2.5 million annually into a capital repair reserve fund to be used for maintenance, the lease agreements say. The organization invests additional funds into the development, but it does not have the capital necessary to fund all of the needed projects at NRG Park. Additionally, the Texans and RodeoHouston have no obligation to reimburse HCSCC for maintenance costs. That funding structure at NRG Park is different from the Houston Astros' and Houston Rockets' leases, where maintenance costs for their respective stadiums fall on the teams. Since June, HCSCC has invested approximately $52 million in upgrades and repairs at NRG Park. The organization also has completed approximately 15,000 work orders for NRG Park so far this year. Additionally, Harris County recently provided $35 million to replace the venue’s outdated video boards, fabric roof and sound system. Even though NRG Stadium is unlike any other venue in the NFL — given that it hosts not only a professional football team but also one of the largest rodeos in the world — funding the needed maintenance and upgrades likely would follow recent trends in the league. As other teams renovate their stadiums or build new ones, those projects are being funded using public-private partnerships. For example, both the Jacksonville Jaguars and the city of Jacksonville are contributing $625 million for the team’s new stadium, though the city also will invest $150 million for deferred and ongoing maintenance. Additionally, the Tennessee Titans’ new stadium is being funded with $1.23 billion in local funds, $500 million in state bonds and $840 million from the team and NFL. On one extreme, the Baltimore Ravens’ $430 million renovation of M&T Bank Stadium is being funded entirely using state resources. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers’ $800 million renovation of Bank of America Stadium will be funded using $650 million in public money and just $150 million in private investment from owner David Tepper. Both the Texans and RodeoHouston have expressed a willingness to share some of the costs associated with maintenance and renovations. Both tenants have also stated that they are committed to extending their leases at NRG Park. Other plans for NRG Park facilities The most recent facility condition assessment is just one step in determining the future of NRG Park. This year, HCSCC has approved design studies for each of the development's facilities, which would provide a framework for future renovations. Architectural plans also will be needed in order to determine the costs of such projects. Additionally, plans for NRG Arena and the Astrodome also will need to be considered. HCSCC approved a study earlier this year that includes the possibility of a brand-new arena. RodeoHouston has said a solution for the facility is one of its most pressing needs as lease negotiations continue. Meanwhile, a $1 billion Astrodome redevelopment vision was recently unveiled by the Astrodome Conservancy, the nonprofit championing the landmark. The organization proposed a public-private partnership to fund the potential plan, which includes $250 million in county funding, $350 million in private investments and $400 million in tax credits. Shortly after that vision was revealed, HCSCC approved a study to explore the future possibilities for the Astrodome. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2024/12/04/harris-county-sports-convention-corp-ceo-named.html Another key Houston sports organization is poised to name its next leader. The Harris County Sports & Convention Corp. board of directors gave authority to Chairman James Dixon II to negotiate a contract for the employment of its next executive director and CEO. Dixon will negotiate a contract with Martye Kendrick for the position, the board said during a special meeting Dec. 4. Kendrick has not yet officially taken over the role, but it is expected that she will be named the next CEO and executive director once her contract is signed. Kendrick currently serves as of counsel in the local office of New York-based Greenberg Traurig LLP, one of Houston’s largest law firms. She has also served on the board of directors of the Harris County Houston Sports Authority since 2018. Additionally, Kendrick was a 2023 Houston Business Journal Women Who Mean Business honoree. Kendrick will succeed Ryan Walsh, who had previously served in the position since 2018. Walsh left the organization in November after he was named the CEO of the HCHSA. He replaced longtime Sports Authority CEO Janis Burke, who was ousted after Houston Mayor John Whitmire called for a reorganization of the entity, which financed, built and maintains Houston’s professional sports venues. Kendrick will lead the Sports & Convention Corp. — the landlord for NRG Park — during a critical time. The organization is negotiating with the Houston Texans and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, NRG Park’s two tenants, for the extension of their leases as well as to plan the redevelopment of the 350-acre sports and entertainment district. The Texans' lease expires in 2031, while RodeoHouston’s lease ends in 2032. The HCSCC has made multiple moves this year as negotiations continue. The organization approved a facilities assessment study for NRG Park to determine the state of the development and needed maintenance. The entity has also approved design studies for NRG Stadium, NRG Center and a potential new NRG Arena. Most recently, the Sports & Convention Corp. approved a study to explore future possibilities for the vacant Astrodome. That came shortly after the Astrodome Conservancy, the nonprofit organization championing the landmark, unveiled a $1 billion vision to redevelop the stadium into a mixed-use development. However, that plan is opposed by RodeoHouston, which would need to approve any changes to the Astrodome. The HCSCC also recently approved a slew of upgrades for NRG Stadium, which is now over 20 years old. Most notably, the stadium will get new endzone video boards, replacing the current screens that are essentially obsolete. A number of smaller upgrades will also be made to the venue’s premium suites and club spaces. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2024/11/28/holiday-sales-retail-real-estate-investors-arenas.html Nov 28, 2024 In Houston, the Harris County Sports & Convention Corp. has approved a study to explore future possibilities for the city's Astrodome, reports Chandler France at the Houston Business Journal. ______________________________________________________________ https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/houston-texas/article/nrg-stadium-updates-19941122.php Nov 25, 2024 NRG Stadium will receive much-needed upgrades and repairs after years of neglect ahead of what will be an extremely busy two years of sporting events. The Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation approved several updates during its recent board meeting, including $35 million for a roof replacement and updated sound system and video boards. The renovations also include painting the 300-level club and 400-level upper suites walls and hallways, new paint for the East and West VIP lobbies, new floors for several levels, and replacing the sliding ramp doors, as first reported by the Houston Business Journal. "It's moving the ball forward. It doesn't fix the whole problem but it does go a long way towards getting some of the things done that really need to happen," said Ryan Walsh, outgoing executive director and CEO of HCSCC at the Nov. 20 board meeting. At this time, Walsh is no longer part of the board, as he takes over the role of executive director and CEO of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority. An investigation by the Houston Chronicle of NRG Stadium saw that years of neglect necessitated approximately $264 million in upgrades, roughly five times the stadium's annual operating budget for replacements and repairs. The study, which was obtained by a records request, was commissioned by the county and authored by design firm PGAL five years ago. It showed that the roof had cracked in multiple spots, leading to possible leaks. It also recommended replacing the whole roof in the next two to four years. But these repairs, while the most pressing, might just be the beginning for the 22-year-old home of the Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The arena is also slated to host the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup final and seven 2026 FIFA World Cup matches. Per the Chronicle's investigation, larger maintenance issues loom, with a new assessment expected to be released soon showing that even more maintenance issues have cropped up since 2019. Ths roof at NRG is leaking? a security person tells @lainehiggins17 that is indeed a first in her 4 years here. Weather in Houston has been terrible today. Texans GM Nick Caserio walked by and was similarly puzzled. pic.twitter.com/paJTvR06aR -- Richard??Johnson (@RJ_cfb) January 8, 2024 Harris County--which owns the land the stadium is on--issued bonds to fund the $35 million upgrades. However, upper level upgrades and floor replacements are being paid for by the HCSCC's earmarking of $2 million for these projects. The video board replacement is scheduled to take place between April 2025 and July 2025. The roof construction has already started, with a new fabric roof installed in October. The retractable roof will be complete before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. ______________________________________________________________ https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2024/11/25/nrg-stadium-upgrades-video-boards-premium-levels.html NRG Stadium to get new endzone video boards, various upgrades in premium levels NRG Park Genericexpand The home of the Houston Texans and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will soon receive various upgrades. Courtney Sandifer Chandler France By Chandler France – Reporter, Houston Business Journal Nov 25, 2024 Listen to this article 5 min The home of the Houston Texans and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will soon receive various upgrades. The Harris County Sports & Convention Corp. — the landlord for NRG Park — approved a slew of projects for NRG Stadium during its board meeting on Nov. 20. The largest upgrade is for the replacement of the venue’s endzone video boards. The organization also approved $1.56 million in other improvements, most of which will impact the stadium’s premium spaces. The improvements come as NRG Stadium, now over two decades old, continues to age while other NFL venues have received hundreds of millions of dollars in renovations and new multibillion-dollar stadiums are built. HCSCC, the Texans and RodeoHouston are collaborating on a redevelopment of the entirety of NRG Park as the leases for the tenants approach their expiration. HCSCC has approved multiple design and facilities assessment studies this year, including one focused on the Astrodome approved Nov. 20. The HCSCC approved a letter of intent with Mitsubishi Electric during the Nov. 20 board meeting to purchase the parts for the new video boards at a cost of $9.71 million. The current screens were installed in 2013 and are “at their end of life,” according to a document included in the board book. Additionally, essential parts for the operation of the current boards have been discontinued. During the meeting, the current video boards were described as obsolete and are being held up by “the electronic equivalent of Band-Aids.” NRG Park worked with Dallas-based design and consulting firm WJHW to review options for the video board replacement. The assessment determined that Mitsubishi could provide a like-for-like replacement with its current technology, as well as maintain compatibility with NRG Stadium’s current structural support system and power distribution. The video board replacement is scheduled to take place between April 2025 and July 2025 — after RodeoHouston’s events and before the Texans’ 2025 season. It’s unclear whether the project will affect the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, which is set to hold its final at NRG Stadium on July 6, 2025. Harris County is paying for the cost of the video board replacement. Meanwhile, the other improvements for NRG Stadium include painting for the 300-level club and 400-level upper suites walls and hallways; painting for the East and West VIP lobbies, lower suite walls and hallways; replacing the 300-level club carpet with vinyl strip wood luxury tiling; and replacing the 200-, 300- and 400-level restroom tiles with vinyl flooring. Additionally, the sliding ramp doors on the 100, 300 and 500 levels will be replaced. The total costs for these upgrades are over $1.56 million. The HCSCC earmarked a total of $2 million for the projects as contingency for additional costs or projects. Leah Mastaglio, assistant general manager at NRG Park, said during the Nov. 20 meeting that the organization had extra funding it could use to complete additional projects. The projects HCSCC selected are a result of conversations with the tenants regarding what would be the most impactful for both guests and staff, Mastaglio said. “It’s moving the ball forward. It doesn’t fix the whole problem but it does go a long way towards getting some things done that really need to happen,” Ryan Walsh — whose last board meeting as executive director and CEO of HCSCC was Nov. 20 — said during the meeting. HCSCC also approved multiple items related to the fabric roof replacement at NRG Stadium. During the Nov. 20 meeting, HCSCC approved the installation of an external fall arrest system for the safety of the contractors. The installation will cost $502,360. The organization also approved a $960,000 contract with Houston-based engineering firm Walter P Moore for the construction administration phase of the project from August-December 2026. HCSCC approved a $1.81 purchase of the materials for the complete replacement in August, while the organization approved a $16.3 million contract with Birdair to install the new fabric roof in October, according to board meeting minutes. Construction will take place in 2025 and 2026, with the retractable roof portion of the project set to be completed prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Three panels were replaced at the venue earlier this year after it sustained damage from Hurricane Beryl in July, but a complete replacement of the roof had been planned prior to that. Other renovations to the venue are anticipated to be completed prior to the 2026 World Cup. That includes the widening of the field — expected to be completed in summer 2025 — and installation of the grass pitch, which will occur just a couple of months before the tournament. __________________________________________ The Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation at NRG Park (HCSCC) in Harris County is planning to issue competitive sealed proposal (CSP) documents. CSP- NRG Stadium Roof Fall Arrest System 2024: Installation of fall arrest system on the NRG Stadium roof. If you are unable to download the documents or are having difficulty, please contact 832-667-1772 or bids@ nrgpark.com.